Killmer resigns after four years as women's coach

March 31, 2008 —

After four seasons as SVSU's head women's basketball coach, Vonnie Killmer resigned on March 22, citing family reasons.

Athletic Director Mike Watson said a national search for her replacement has already begun.

"We're conducting a national search," Watson said. "The position has been posted on the NCAA Web site, and with the Black Coaches Association.

"You hate to lose good people, but you have to move forward. I have a list of about 10 people and I've been doing some research and asking head coaches at other schools to see if they have any assistances who may be available."

While it is difficult to put an exact date on a final decision, Watson said he would like to have Killmer's replacement no later than May 1.

"This would allow our current players to meet the candidates and the eventual coach before everyone scatters around the state for the summer."

Killmer's resignation comes during the recruiting period, and during the time when the women are in the midst of spring workouts. Seeing the need for an immediate substitute, men's head coach Frankie Smith stepped in to run the women's workouts until a replacement is found.

"One of the things I've been working on here since I got here is creating team unity here in the Athletic Department," Watson said." When Frankie said he'd volunteer to do that, I thought, what a great showing of teamwork."

In her four seasons at the helm of the women's basketball program, Killmer compiled a 35-72 record, and took the women to the post season in the 2006-07 season. Hired in July of 2004, Killmer took over a struggling program that had failed to finish with a .500 or better record in the GLIAC in over eight years, and has since yet to reach that plateau.

Killmer came to SVSU after four years as the Saginaw Arthur Hill athletic director, and already had experience with SVSU athletics as an assistant to former women's head coach Claudette Charney in the 1991-1992 season.

Killmer had a successful college career, playing point guard a Notre Dame and U of M, where she eventually set the women's single season assist record that still stands today.

Watson thanked Killmer for her service at SVSU, but said the athletic department will remain focused on its goal of moving forward.

"I'm a firm believer that if want to move your program forward, you can't just sit on your hands and see who applies."